Windows Computer Question

[Bluestrike_2]

Ok, I need to build a Windows PC for a few apps(long story, very pissed off). Selected items below:

Antec Case

Lite-On Black 52X32X52X16 Combo Drive, Model SOHC-5235K BLACK, Retail

Western Digital Special Edition 80GB 7200RPM IDE Hard Drive

Corsair Value Select (Dual Pack) 184 Pin 512MBx2 DDR PC-3200 - OEM

GIGABYTE "GA-K8NF-9" NVIDIA nForce4 4X Chipset Motherboard For AMD Socket 939 CPU -RETAIL
AMD Athlon 64 3000+, 512KB L2 Cache 64-bit Processor - Retail

SAPPHIRE ATI Radeon X700 PRO Video Card, 256MB GDDR3, 128-Bit, DVI/TV-Out, PCI-Express, Model "X700 PRO" -RETAIL

It's on a budget and I currently own a legal version of Windows 2000(never used), and will then in the future purchase an upgrade to XP Pro. Anyhow, what are your opinions of such a setup? Can I squeeze more of a bang for the buck without having to sacrifice much in the line of performance?

Thanks!

Edit: Forgot to add the total of the above setup: $731.90

Obviously I have a keyboard, mouse, and monitor already.

Also, can the x700 handle a 1920x1200 widescreen HD display - I'd like to nab a good KVM along with it. Suggestions?

[Buff]

How much is the X700?
the X800XL is about $300......and way faster.

But the X700 will do what you need

[Tim 3]

Ide over clock it to like 2.4ghz. I currently have my amd 3000+ at 2.5 ghz just upgrade the cpu fan/cooling device and maby consider water cooling what are u planing to run on it?
Other wise seems preety decent

[wad04]

it looks good but you should get a better hdd. you should really consider getting a serial ATA hard drive. less cable and a bit faster. And 80 gigs really isn't suffcient anymore, go for at least 150 or so. just my oppinion

[Bluestrike_2]

This does not need a ton of storage space. i do anything remotely important on my Mac. No videos. No pictures. Nothing other than a few games and a few apps I need to use.

Graphics card: X700 is $180 whereas the X800 is about $280.

Big price difference when you are on a budget, although if I could, I'd try to buy the X800XL

Mostly games like RCT:3(That game sucks the life out of my other Windows PC - even some very high-end computers get super-low frame rates(sub 5-8)in full 256x256 parks that are loaded up.
Half-Life etc.

Thanks for the help!

[ColdFuzion]

I need a new box, too. My Mac is plenty fast, but Sierra games are not compatable with my new Mac (No DPB ), and my old Windows has the worst graphics card..

-Cold

[SIGSays]

dont install windows 2000 and upgrade to xp pro... do it right the first time.. sell the damn thing.. and buy xp... saves you alot of problems... i upgraded ontop of windows 2k.. and it messed up everything..

[Bluestrike_2]

You can do the upgrade so that it is a fresh install. I've done it in the past with home. Reformat, partition, insert disk, enter a key code from an old Windows version, fresh install!

[Glickman]

You can do the upgrade so that it is a fresh install. I've done it in the past with home. Reformat, partition, insert disk, enter a key code from an old Windows version, fresh install!

please...

make sure you have all the disks for the drivers of all hardware.


im counting 3 idiot friends on this one

[Dryden]

Last thing first, the Linkskey 2-Port KVM can handle up to 1920x1440. The cables are top notch with no screen ghosting or alignment issues. For $21, I've never found a better desktop KVM, and I use these at work with Dell 2005FPW displays (1680x1050). I can't say how it'll perform up to the resolution you need, but it's worth a look for its price.

$ 21.50 Linkskey 2-Port Slim Desktop KVM Switch, Model "LKV-S02SK" -RETAIL (Two Slim 3-in-1 KVM Combo Cables Included)

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-107-210&depa=0

I build a new PC about once a week for my company, so I always have a parts list handy of what I'm using. This isn't precisely what you're looking for, as I've gone with a cheaper video display, but it's a P4 3.0Ghz HT. I swear by the Intel hyper-threadeds for Win 2000/XP Pro, since they're functionally dual-processors within the operating system. Linux recognizes Prescott chips as dual CPU too -- these things absolutely fly. I'm an ASUS whore, hence the mobo, and GeiL memory is rock-solid on ASUS boards.

My list is about two weeks old, but it's right under $650. Upgrade the video for something else you want and I think we're still in the same price range. Over the last ... maybe six/eight weeks? ... I've built 10 PCs in this configuration. They're tanks.

The P4P800-SE MoBo does not have 1394. The P4P800-E Deluxe does. The E-Deluxe is about $20 more. I include floppies since they're needed to load the SATA controller and disk driver for clean installations.

(Everything from NewEgg.com)

$ 50.00 IN WIN Beige ATX Mid Tower Case with 300W Power Supply, Model "S500G.I300FU2D 1.2V"

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-108-312&depa=1

$ 95.00 ASUS "P4P800 SE" i865PE Chipset Motherboard for Intel Socket 478 CPU -RETAIL

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-131-484&depa=0

$ 182.99 Intel Pentium 4/ 3.0E GHz 800MHz FSB, 1MB L2 Cache, Hyper Threading Technology - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-116-171&depa=1

$ 115.50 Geil Ultra Series Value Dual Channel 184 Pin 1GB(512MBx2) DDR PC-3200 w/ Blue Heatspreader - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-144-310&depa=1

$ 38.00 Sapphire ATI RADEON 9250 Video Card, 128MB DDR, 64-Bit, TV-Out, 8X AGP, Model "100583" -OEM

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=14-102-440&DEPA=1

$ 8.50 SONY Beige 1.44MB 3.5Inch Floppy Disk Drive, Model MPF920, OEM

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=21-103-109&depa=0

$ 107.19 Maxtor Ultra Series Kit 120GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive, Model L01M120, Retail

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=22-144-351&depa=1

$ 49.99 Plextor 52X32X52 Beige CD-RW Drive, Model PX-230A-BPS - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=27-106-257&depa=1

[Banshee23]

Blue, don't get the Western HD. They're not anywhere near as reliable as they used to be I'd say go for a seagate nowadays, they're built like tanks & have a standard 5yr warranty, even the OEM's